27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
|
|||
|
|||
|
A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
|
PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
Retired Tiger pilot
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Club Morocco. Subic Bay. Philippines
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guns and more guns
After 37 years in PNG I left never having an urge to have a gun for self defense or as some phycs say, for an extension of the phallic symbol. When aircrew could get a licence, I could see no real use of a pistol after going down in the jungle, maybe a 410 would be of greater benefit at least to shoot small birds or game.
I do recall a couple of incidents ivolving pilots witrh unlicenced firearms that after being 'lost' were possibly used in acts of violence against other residents. If the guns had not been there in the first place, the later incidents would not have occured.
I recall when two pilots were going on leave and asked Sharpie to mind their gats while they were away. One had a shortnose .38 special and the other an automatic .32 beretta.
My tenure of the pistols was supposed to be confidential, but a few days after the two guys departed POM, another pilot asked me if he could have the pistols as he was going white-water rafting down the Waghi and needed a bit more than moral support. He had got authority from the two owners, who never informed me of the fact. I gladly transfered custody of the weapons to the bright young lad on the understanding that they were his to look after from then on.
A week or so later, I saw the white-water rafter and asked about the trip. He rather sheepishly replied that they had been held up with a tree across the river, divested of all personal effects, clothes apart from his wife's and other's undies. When asked about the two pistols, he said that there were too many of the Chimbu's and they got the guns as well.
Another pilot had a .375 magnum plus about 50 rounds of ammo, all of which was kept next to the bed. Many knew about this great weapon as he told many. After returning from the Aviat one evening, he found that his unit had been ransacked with the .375 and ammo missing.
It is believed that the .375 was used to stop a police land cruiser a few days later,with a few well placed bullets through the block, and that the two taken in the white-water rafting episode were also used in later crimes.
Yes, there have been instances where expats have been saved by using a gun in self defense but there have been more instances where people have been wounded or killed by the criminal element using guns stolen from expats.
Even my brother who has been driving the Waghi for more than 37 years now, has never felt the need to carry a weapon.
I do recall a couple of incidents ivolving pilots witrh unlicenced firearms that after being 'lost' were possibly used in acts of violence against other residents. If the guns had not been there in the first place, the later incidents would not have occured.
I recall when two pilots were going on leave and asked Sharpie to mind their gats while they were away. One had a shortnose .38 special and the other an automatic .32 beretta.
My tenure of the pistols was supposed to be confidential, but a few days after the two guys departed POM, another pilot asked me if he could have the pistols as he was going white-water rafting down the Waghi and needed a bit more than moral support. He had got authority from the two owners, who never informed me of the fact. I gladly transfered custody of the weapons to the bright young lad on the understanding that they were his to look after from then on.
A week or so later, I saw the white-water rafter and asked about the trip. He rather sheepishly replied that they had been held up with a tree across the river, divested of all personal effects, clothes apart from his wife's and other's undies. When asked about the two pistols, he said that there were too many of the Chimbu's and they got the guns as well.
Another pilot had a .375 magnum plus about 50 rounds of ammo, all of which was kept next to the bed. Many knew about this great weapon as he told many. After returning from the Aviat one evening, he found that his unit had been ransacked with the .375 and ammo missing.
It is believed that the .375 was used to stop a police land cruiser a few days later,with a few well placed bullets through the block, and that the two taken in the white-water rafting episode were also used in later crimes.
Yes, there have been instances where expats have been saved by using a gun in self defense but there have been more instances where people have been wounded or killed by the criminal element using guns stolen from expats.
Even my brother who has been driving the Waghi for more than 37 years now, has never felt the need to carry a weapon.
Grandpa Aerotart
Driven the Wahgi for 37 yrs and never felt the need to be armed?
What utter rubbish!
I have driven between Kundiawa and Lae maybe 5 times...between Kundiawa and Hagen maybe 10 times...back and forth between Kundiawa and Minj golf club numerous times.
On one occasion my then wife and I were stopped at a one lane bridge just west of Kianantu by shotgun armed rascals with balaclavas over their heads...do you really think they would not have raped Joanne had I not been armed and fired at them while reversing away? Would either of us have survived? Very probably NOT!!!
On another occasion while driving back from Hagen we were presented with the same scenario but without the road being actually blocked...I didn't stop...fired a few rounds randomly forward of the car...and one not so randomly at the rascal drawing a bead on me from the right side.
On both occassions they were firing at me first.
If someone had been armed at the Dero the whole incident would likely have been over before anyone of the 16 patrons had been axed...the security guard being the exception.
I truly wish I had ignored Joanne that night...how no-one was actually killed is amazing...if you had been there and watched John Moet going down under a rain of axe blows to his upper body perhaps you might have a different view...if you'd seen Taildragger axed with extreme brutality, when he was following the screamed instructions to get on the ground.
When you are lying on the ground next to your wife who is lying on top of your 2 yr old to shield her and a raskol holds a homemade (note Peter, homemade) shotgun to your head and threatens to blow it off and then rape your wife...if I had been armed that night I would have had zero compunction...all the good people were lying on the ground...many bleeding from grievous wounds...all the baddies were standing up backlit by the clubhouse lighting, running around axing people....if I had been armed and shot the first raskol that ran past the rest would likely have run out as fast as they ran in. Ask Peter Gerdes about being face to face with a raskol armed with a home made shot gun that night....at a range of less than a foot the raskol pulled the trigger while aiming at his face...and the gun missfired...pure luck...I doubt Peter ever really got over that!
And please note also that this occurred early in the evening...when the bar was full and the till relatively empty...it was not done for pure financial gain, it was done to hurt/kill people.
Taildraggers memories of what started the shooting at the Cathay Club are somewhat at odds with the version I heard from both witnesses and the actual shooters (there were two) the rascals had started getting very nasty with some of the women folk, including the very pregnant wife of one shooter, before they started shooting.
I have also been in a situation where I was armed and held at gunpoint (Rabaul Yacht Club) but it never got to the point where using the gun was warranted...and no they didn't take it off me and NO-ONE, before or after, knew I was armed....if it had got nasty though...
On one or two other occassions, like the incident above at the Chinese Restaurant at Boroko being armed stopped me being robbed or hurt/killed...note I didn't need to kill to protect myself...a warning shot fired close over their heads will set 99% of raskols running for their lives.
Would the lady helicopter pilot (Heather) in Lae have been so brutally raped and murdered if she was armed?
A close female friend drove off a rapist in Goroka Teachers College compound one night when the wantok (the Haus Meri) of the attacker left the escape hatch in the floor unlocked for him...she had one of those rotary flare guns and fired one into his face after being stabbed numerous times with a screw driver...it wasn't until some time after when she went to a doctor she realised that she had in fact been raped, infected with syphilis and vaginally damaged...she had blocked it out...the offender was a security guard who turned up to work a week or so later with a badly burned face...when confronted by the police his wantoks made it abundantly clear what would happen to all the resident females if the attacker was arrested....he was not arrested...I believe he was 'taken care of' some time later!
I can think of two other friends of mine who very probably would NOT have been shot (non fatally by pure luck) had they been armed...and another...a national pilot who was murdered in front of his wife and children in broad daylight...yes he was shot by a 17yr old using a probably stolen firearm...but perhaps it was one of the 10s of thousands of handguns left in PNG after the war...or one of the thousands sold from police and CIS/Army armouries by corrupt members of the army, police etc.
Yes there have been murders, shootings and armed robberies where guns stolen from expats were used...a miniscule number compared to those provided by corrupt individuals in the very govt departments tasked with the protection of the public.
When the police are demonstably incapable of protecting citizens and the criminals are demonstably prepared to use deadly force as a first option what possible option do people have but to arm themselves?
Pete you have always been one to look at PNG through rose tinted glasses, we probably all do to some extent...you have always been an appologist. Well ok...I loved my time there too...but bad **** happened and continues to happen I am sure.
One of those know it all, play the old time expat to the hilt (he wouldn't have been 30) bank johnies once had a go at me...reckoned my close calls with raskols were 'my fault' and that he never got into trouble because he was 'street savvy'!!! Shtitfaced on a bar stool at the Aviat Club...where he spent every waking moment when not at work.
I guess family bbq night at the Dero, driving on the Highlands Highway, having a few post boating beers at the Rabaul Yacht Club on a sunday evening count as activities that in his opinion were high risk.
You also need to remember that your first 20+ yrs in PNG were in a virtually crime free era.
I would be hard pressed to pull up 3 names of any of my contemporaries who were not exposed to violent crime in their time in PNG...if they spent more than 12 mths there...a handfull will carry the physical scars, if not mental ones, to their graves. In 13+ yrs I was shot at half a dozen times at least, had guns pointed at me that many times again and was robbed at gun point twice....to suggest not carrying a handgun in PNG is disengenuous...I just find it very difficult to believe your brother didn't ever carry one.
Sorry to highjack a fun thread with such a serious topic...but the above was just as much a feature of life in PNG as the fun times and drunken sillyness...and what amazes me more and more as the yrs since I departed roll on is the fact that it didn't bother me more at the time. That we laughed like drains after the Rabaul yachty incident...at Rocket Marsland when he came out of the dunnies drunk as a lord as we were frog marched past hands held high by balaclava wearing, shotgun toting raskols..."Bit farking hot for balaclavas innit?" I **** you not...that's what he said...but quickly fell into line hands held high when the shotgun was held to his face..."well ok you can wear a balaclava" 
Laugh? we nearly wet ourselves...after it was over and no-one was hurt...we also drank free the rest of the evening!
Edit: Tinpis that rather lovely graphic is what is causing the page to be so wide...can ya reduce it or just post a link? Tenk yu tru Masta.
What utter rubbish!
I have driven between Kundiawa and Lae maybe 5 times...between Kundiawa and Hagen maybe 10 times...back and forth between Kundiawa and Minj golf club numerous times.
On one occasion my then wife and I were stopped at a one lane bridge just west of Kianantu by shotgun armed rascals with balaclavas over their heads...do you really think they would not have raped Joanne had I not been armed and fired at them while reversing away? Would either of us have survived? Very probably NOT!!!
On another occasion while driving back from Hagen we were presented with the same scenario but without the road being actually blocked...I didn't stop...fired a few rounds randomly forward of the car...and one not so randomly at the rascal drawing a bead on me from the right side.
On both occassions they were firing at me first.
If someone had been armed at the Dero the whole incident would likely have been over before anyone of the 16 patrons had been axed...the security guard being the exception.
I truly wish I had ignored Joanne that night...how no-one was actually killed is amazing...if you had been there and watched John Moet going down under a rain of axe blows to his upper body perhaps you might have a different view...if you'd seen Taildragger axed with extreme brutality, when he was following the screamed instructions to get on the ground.
When you are lying on the ground next to your wife who is lying on top of your 2 yr old to shield her and a raskol holds a homemade (note Peter, homemade) shotgun to your head and threatens to blow it off and then rape your wife...if I had been armed that night I would have had zero compunction...all the good people were lying on the ground...many bleeding from grievous wounds...all the baddies were standing up backlit by the clubhouse lighting, running around axing people....if I had been armed and shot the first raskol that ran past the rest would likely have run out as fast as they ran in. Ask Peter Gerdes about being face to face with a raskol armed with a home made shot gun that night....at a range of less than a foot the raskol pulled the trigger while aiming at his face...and the gun missfired...pure luck...I doubt Peter ever really got over that!
And please note also that this occurred early in the evening...when the bar was full and the till relatively empty...it was not done for pure financial gain, it was done to hurt/kill people.
Taildraggers memories of what started the shooting at the Cathay Club are somewhat at odds with the version I heard from both witnesses and the actual shooters (there were two) the rascals had started getting very nasty with some of the women folk, including the very pregnant wife of one shooter, before they started shooting.
I have also been in a situation where I was armed and held at gunpoint (Rabaul Yacht Club) but it never got to the point where using the gun was warranted...and no they didn't take it off me and NO-ONE, before or after, knew I was armed....if it had got nasty though...
On one or two other occassions, like the incident above at the Chinese Restaurant at Boroko being armed stopped me being robbed or hurt/killed...note I didn't need to kill to protect myself...a warning shot fired close over their heads will set 99% of raskols running for their lives.
Would the lady helicopter pilot (Heather) in Lae have been so brutally raped and murdered if she was armed?
A close female friend drove off a rapist in Goroka Teachers College compound one night when the wantok (the Haus Meri) of the attacker left the escape hatch in the floor unlocked for him...she had one of those rotary flare guns and fired one into his face after being stabbed numerous times with a screw driver...it wasn't until some time after when she went to a doctor she realised that she had in fact been raped, infected with syphilis and vaginally damaged...she had blocked it out...the offender was a security guard who turned up to work a week or so later with a badly burned face...when confronted by the police his wantoks made it abundantly clear what would happen to all the resident females if the attacker was arrested....he was not arrested...I believe he was 'taken care of' some time later!
I can think of two other friends of mine who very probably would NOT have been shot (non fatally by pure luck) had they been armed...and another...a national pilot who was murdered in front of his wife and children in broad daylight...yes he was shot by a 17yr old using a probably stolen firearm...but perhaps it was one of the 10s of thousands of handguns left in PNG after the war...or one of the thousands sold from police and CIS/Army armouries by corrupt members of the army, police etc.
Yes there have been murders, shootings and armed robberies where guns stolen from expats were used...a miniscule number compared to those provided by corrupt individuals in the very govt departments tasked with the protection of the public.
When the police are demonstably incapable of protecting citizens and the criminals are demonstably prepared to use deadly force as a first option what possible option do people have but to arm themselves?
Pete you have always been one to look at PNG through rose tinted glasses, we probably all do to some extent...you have always been an appologist. Well ok...I loved my time there too...but bad **** happened and continues to happen I am sure.
One of those know it all, play the old time expat to the hilt (he wouldn't have been 30) bank johnies once had a go at me...reckoned my close calls with raskols were 'my fault' and that he never got into trouble because he was 'street savvy'!!! Shtitfaced on a bar stool at the Aviat Club...where he spent every waking moment when not at work.
I guess family bbq night at the Dero, driving on the Highlands Highway, having a few post boating beers at the Rabaul Yacht Club on a sunday evening count as activities that in his opinion were high risk.
You also need to remember that your first 20+ yrs in PNG were in a virtually crime free era.
I would be hard pressed to pull up 3 names of any of my contemporaries who were not exposed to violent crime in their time in PNG...if they spent more than 12 mths there...a handfull will carry the physical scars, if not mental ones, to their graves. In 13+ yrs I was shot at half a dozen times at least, had guns pointed at me that many times again and was robbed at gun point twice....to suggest not carrying a handgun in PNG is disengenuous...I just find it very difficult to believe your brother didn't ever carry one.
Sorry to highjack a fun thread with such a serious topic...but the above was just as much a feature of life in PNG as the fun times and drunken sillyness...and what amazes me more and more as the yrs since I departed roll on is the fact that it didn't bother me more at the time. That we laughed like drains after the Rabaul yachty incident...at Rocket Marsland when he came out of the dunnies drunk as a lord as we were frog marched past hands held high by balaclava wearing, shotgun toting raskols..."Bit farking hot for balaclavas innit?" I **** you not...that's what he said...but quickly fell into line hands held high when the shotgun was held to his face..."well ok you can wear a balaclava"
Laugh? we nearly wet ourselves...after it was over and no-one was hurt...we also drank free the rest of the evening!
Edit: Tinpis that rather lovely graphic is what is causing the page to be so wide...can ya reduce it or just post a link? Tenk yu tru Masta.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 8th Mar 2005 at 23:21.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Granite Belt, Australia
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chimbu A good post.
I've been in PNG in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's - not continuously, but with sanity breaks in Australia mainly - and I have to admit that I've never been armed.
I was at the "new" dero, below the Airways Motel, when it was held up. But like the true coward that I am - I fled onto the airport proper. The "Drum" two days later reported that a Jumbo took off without clearance... no kidding!
I've been in PNG in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's - not continuously, but with sanity breaks in Australia mainly - and I have to admit that I've never been armed.
I was at the "new" dero, below the Airways Motel, when it was held up. But like the true coward that I am - I fled onto the airport proper. The "Drum" two days later reported that a Jumbo took off without clearance... no kidding!
Guest
Posts: n/a
sori chuck fixed pinis. 
There are probably a few young fellas about to apply to PNG airlines for work and reading this wonder if they had better take an armed combat course at the local gun club before leaving !
I have heard the Mindi is real bad with armed gangs parading around in front of the coppers(hmmm off duty cops?)
Can anyone who is "in country" shed any light on what the situation is?
The only threat I came under in PNG was a drunken pilot kicked my door down and came in swinging.
(Dennis sacked him while he was recovering in hospital the next day
Chuck I think that Louie is probably more your lover than a fighter
Doug was one of the nicest fellas I met he wouldnt hurt a fly.
There are probably a few young fellas about to apply to PNG airlines for work and reading this wonder if they had better take an armed combat course at the local gun club before leaving !
I have heard the Mindi is real bad with armed gangs parading around in front of the coppers(hmmm off duty cops?)
Can anyone who is "in country" shed any light on what the situation is?
The only threat I came under in PNG was a drunken pilot kicked my door down and came in swinging.
(Dennis sacked him while he was recovering in hospital the next day
Chuck I think that Louie is probably more your lover than a fighter
Doug was one of the nicest fellas I met he wouldnt hurt a fly.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Twyford, UK
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well Chuckles.... You NEVER told me that you were gonna bring the glock Birth Control machine to the dero that night. Perhaps it's just as well you tell me when you are a longwe awe.
However, I think Sharpie although he ahs a lorra lorra years on me, (And you) in paradise, it did deteriorate over his august arrival in the Territory. It takes a lot to spook me, but I was a wee bit spooked that night, and if I had a gun, I would have blown the cnut and any other cnut in my sights away. The cops (Unarmed that night) said exactly the same. I never went into the old dero again without being armed, and I know for sure that Big Doug carried a sawn off shotgun, the little eytie guy had a 9mm, and the cops always had a 9mm too. keeping out of the crossfire would be the problem.!! It was the cops present that night who signed my Pistol Licence.!! I (Happily) never had to use it, but let me tell you this, if I EVER had the need, I had squared it away in my head beforehand, as had Mrs. TD, who would reach over to my side of the bed and blow whoever came through the door away. It made going for a pee a bit of a lottery.!!
However, I think Sharpie although he ahs a lorra lorra years on me, (And you) in paradise, it did deteriorate over his august arrival in the Territory. It takes a lot to spook me, but I was a wee bit spooked that night, and if I had a gun, I would have blown the cnut and any other cnut in my sights away. The cops (Unarmed that night) said exactly the same. I never went into the old dero again without being armed, and I know for sure that Big Doug carried a sawn off shotgun, the little eytie guy had a 9mm, and the cops always had a 9mm too. keeping out of the crossfire would be the problem.!! It was the cops present that night who signed my Pistol Licence.!! I (Happily) never had to use it, but let me tell you this, if I EVER had the need, I had squared it away in my head beforehand, as had Mrs. TD, who would reach over to my side of the bed and blow whoever came through the door away. It made going for a pee a bit of a lottery.!!
Grandpa Aerotart
The second time I was shot 'at' was by off duty police...they weren't actually shooting at me but at our gate guard who had dived for cover in the bushes under my bedroom window just inside the front gate of our compound outside Kundiawa. Lots of yelled demands to open the gate had preceeded the gunfire. When he stoutly insisted for the third or fourth time that he didn't have a key they started shooting...I pushed Joanne off one side of the bed and rolled off the other as bullets thudded into the walls and came through the window thwacking into the wall just above the bedhead...it was pay Friday night and, we discovered later, they were there to rob the Sika Stores warehouse that was in our compound.
Then there was the off duty cop shot and killed by the Chinese Trade store owner during an armed hold up at Koki.
Remember the annual Aeroclub Ball a few weeks after the attack Taildragger? I reckon there were at least 10 handguns and Dennis' sawn off in the club that night...imagine of they'd hit the club that night? You're right...being hit in the crossfire would have been a serious risk
It would have looked like a scene from 'Bad Boys 2'. Was that the same year you urinated in a glass and added ice to find out who was stealing your drinks? God did we laugh when the non reflective chappy slunk over, picked up your 'drink' and took a sip...he turned up his nose and said something to his mate...who took a sip and assured him it was ok...so he finished it
Animal Club 'the shed'...I refuse to call it the new Dero was hit so many times it was just getting rediculous in the late 90s...remember the 'security guard's arrow taped up to the beer fridge? It had blood and hair for the first 6cm from where it was shot into a raskol. I remember standing there having a few beers with 3 or 4 other expats in 98 or 99...we were all armed and all left to drive home before dark.
Twice I was shot at on Bouganville...well I can live with that it was a war zone...the first was doing a charter over there in a C402 early 89..before Kieta was closed and when they still thought the BRA was a minor, short term inconveniance. I took a bunch of tire company fellas (Dunlop or some such) over there and we drove up to the mine site to look at the huge dump trucks etc and speak to various BCL Execs. Someone took a couple of pot shots at us...the first wanged off the huge truck we were standing next to and the others whizzed harmlessly over our heads...I think they were probably a long way off on a nearby hill...the S&W 38 I had at the time was in my hand as we drove back down to the coast....I spent the rest of the day on that little island resort in the harbour where all the remaining expats were living.
The second was while flying a Twotter near where they tried to shoot Gerry Krynen down a few weeks later, in '94....just a stream of tracer past one wing as I flew between bush strips nap of the earth...probably just shooting at the noise...might have even been bored PNG Defense Farce...a few weeks later BRA put 27 bullet holes in one of our Twotters as Gerry got airborne from some strip I can't remember the name of...killed a pax and wounded another. We never flew on Bouganville again.
Landed at Wasu once doing Kabwum Valley shuttles and while standing in the freight shed we watched as raskols hit the coffee company office across the road...Wissang, our agents nubile (and much rooted by one of the Lae based pilots) daughter told me to go so I raced out to the aircraft and as I hopped in her father dumped two large bags of cash on my lap...there was a raskol aiming at me as I started the left engine first, to keep him away, and I shot out of the parking bay starting the other engine...I took off through scores of locals running across the strip and saw the puff of shotgun blasts aimed at me as I went past the parking bay....I called Muddy on HF and told him what had happened and how all the aircraft seats were still on the ground... he actually told me to go back and get them
Pretty sure I did actually go back....after Wisang told me it was all clear, and got the bloody things
There was a rather cute American cruising sailor at the yachty that night in Rabaul. She'd been in town a week...the previous evening I had spent a large chunk of it on my stomache fixing her water pump...all I got was dinner...after the raskols were gone she wondered about the possibility she might have been raped...'never happen' says I...'why?'...I took her hand and put it under my shirt where my pistol was tucked into my shorts in a special holster in the small of my back, said nothng and she just looked up at me...got more than dinner that night although in hindsight I'm not sure whether she thought I was gonna shoot her or the raskols. 
Rocket had raced home to get his .22 pistol, why after they had gone is still a mystery too me...but he was pretty pissed (in both senses of the word) and as he raced back he ran some fella off the road into the big barret just near the yachty...he came in waving his pistol around but quickly put it away when the policeman arrived a few minutes later...all dirty and hacked off after climbing out of his upturned car in the barret
tinpis I stopped encouraging young pilots to go to PNG 10yrs ago...sadly.
Then there was the off duty cop shot and killed by the Chinese Trade store owner during an armed hold up at Koki.
Remember the annual Aeroclub Ball a few weeks after the attack Taildragger? I reckon there were at least 10 handguns and Dennis' sawn off in the club that night...imagine of they'd hit the club that night? You're right...being hit in the crossfire would have been a serious risk
It would have looked like a scene from 'Bad Boys 2'. Was that the same year you urinated in a glass and added ice to find out who was stealing your drinks? God did we laugh when the non reflective chappy slunk over, picked up your 'drink' and took a sip...he turned up his nose and said something to his mate...who took a sip and assured him it was ok...so he finished it Animal Club 'the shed'...I refuse to call it the new Dero was hit so many times it was just getting rediculous in the late 90s...remember the 'security guard's arrow taped up to the beer fridge? It had blood and hair for the first 6cm from where it was shot into a raskol. I remember standing there having a few beers with 3 or 4 other expats in 98 or 99...we were all armed and all left to drive home before dark.
Twice I was shot at on Bouganville...well I can live with that it was a war zone...the first was doing a charter over there in a C402 early 89..before Kieta was closed and when they still thought the BRA was a minor, short term inconveniance. I took a bunch of tire company fellas (Dunlop or some such) over there and we drove up to the mine site to look at the huge dump trucks etc and speak to various BCL Execs. Someone took a couple of pot shots at us...the first wanged off the huge truck we were standing next to and the others whizzed harmlessly over our heads...I think they were probably a long way off on a nearby hill...the S&W 38 I had at the time was in my hand as we drove back down to the coast....I spent the rest of the day on that little island resort in the harbour where all the remaining expats were living.
The second was while flying a Twotter near where they tried to shoot Gerry Krynen down a few weeks later, in '94....just a stream of tracer past one wing as I flew between bush strips nap of the earth...probably just shooting at the noise...might have even been bored PNG Defense Farce...a few weeks later BRA put 27 bullet holes in one of our Twotters as Gerry got airborne from some strip I can't remember the name of...killed a pax and wounded another. We never flew on Bouganville again.
Landed at Wasu once doing Kabwum Valley shuttles and while standing in the freight shed we watched as raskols hit the coffee company office across the road...Wissang, our agents nubile (and much rooted by one of the Lae based pilots) daughter told me to go so I raced out to the aircraft and as I hopped in her father dumped two large bags of cash on my lap...there was a raskol aiming at me as I started the left engine first, to keep him away, and I shot out of the parking bay starting the other engine...I took off through scores of locals running across the strip and saw the puff of shotgun blasts aimed at me as I went past the parking bay....I called Muddy on HF and told him what had happened and how all the aircraft seats were still on the ground... he actually told me to go back and get them
Pretty sure I did actually go back....after Wisang told me it was all clear, and got the bloody thingsThere was a rather cute American cruising sailor at the yachty that night in Rabaul. She'd been in town a week...the previous evening I had spent a large chunk of it on my stomache fixing her water pump...all I got was dinner...after the raskols were gone she wondered about the possibility she might have been raped...'never happen' says I...'why?'...I took her hand and put it under my shirt where my pistol was tucked into my shorts in a special holster in the small of my back, said nothng and she just looked up at me...got more than dinner that night
although in hindsight I'm not sure whether she thought I was gonna shoot her or the raskols. Rocket had raced home to get his .22 pistol, why after they had gone is still a mystery too me...but he was pretty pissed (in both senses of the word) and as he raced back he ran some fella off the road into the big barret just near the yachty...he came in waving his pistol around but quickly put it away when the policeman arrived a few minutes later...all dirty and hacked off after climbing out of his upturned car in the barret
tinpis I stopped encouraging young pilots to go to PNG 10yrs ago...sadly.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 9th Mar 2005 at 02:20.
Guest
Posts: n/a
You saw more combat than Normie Rowe in the battle of Long Tan Chuck
I guess this is what happens when the cops arent able to boot arse and take names, its starting in the cities in oz but to a much lesser degree.
I wonder what will happen when the Aussie police in PNG end up looking down the barrel ?
I guess this is what happens when the cops arent able to boot arse and take names, its starting in the cities in oz but to a much lesser degree.
I wonder what will happen when the Aussie police in PNG end up looking down the barrel ?
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Granite Belt, Australia
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got the following from Trevor Michie's PNG Gossip (available monthly, or thereabouts for free)...
** Beltek Robbery **
Beltek in Gordon's in the National Capital District (NCD) recently had to call for help from the police when they were robbed but the police station they called only had Australian Police in attendance. Under an agreement the Australian police are not allowed to attend to any incident without the company of PNG police personnel. To top it off it is not just an ordinary PNG policeman that must attend with the Aussie police but also a specially trained policeman. The NCD / Central Province Commander is now expecting a report as to why there were no specially trained PNG police at work at the time of the call. Beltek lost two vehicles when criminals stole them from workers coming to work at 7:30 in the morning. Beltek have recovered one of the stolen vehicles and the other is still unaccounted for.
** Beltek Robbery **
Beltek in Gordon's in the National Capital District (NCD) recently had to call for help from the police when they were robbed but the police station they called only had Australian Police in attendance. Under an agreement the Australian police are not allowed to attend to any incident without the company of PNG police personnel. To top it off it is not just an ordinary PNG policeman that must attend with the Aussie police but also a specially trained policeman. The NCD / Central Province Commander is now expecting a report as to why there were no specially trained PNG police at work at the time of the call. Beltek lost two vehicles when criminals stole them from workers coming to work at 7:30 in the morning. Beltek have recovered one of the stolen vehicles and the other is still unaccounted for.
Retired Tiger pilot
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Club Morocco. Subic Bay. Philippines
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Utter Rubbish"
Having been basically called a liar by old Chuck, I phoned Doug Sharpe of Waghi Valley Motors in Mount Hagen at 320pm (PNG time) to find that he was on his way to Lae by road.
Doug phoned me in Subic at 4pm(PNG time) having just arrived in Lae and in answer to my question how many trips he has done on ther Highlands Highway in the last 37 years, he replied that he could not count them.
In operating in excess of 40 trucks on the Highway from Lae to Tari, to Mendi, to Hagen, to Porgera and to wherever, He has been stopped on a number of occassions and has made donations to various political or self interest welfare groups who pop-up along the way but never felt personally threatened or in fear for his life.
He has has many thousands of litres of fuel or containers of food stuffs hijacked, he has had drivers killed, trucks off the highway down ravines, but for some silly reason, keeps on trying to keep the Highlands supplied by road.
In answer to my question did he carry self defense arms of any sort, he replied that he never has had a gun, he never has had a need for a gun and he does not expect to obtain a gun in the future.
He like me, believes that if you keep your nose clean, keep out of mischief and do not appear to be a threat to anyone, your chances of survival are better.
Sadly, there are some people that wherever they may be, always seem to attract the wrong type of attention. Maybe it is their oral or body language that attracts the unwanted. They possibly would get into an argument with a monastry full of monks!
Charles, if you so desire, you can contact Doug on 675-4722443 or 675-5451333 to confirm my statements.
Further, even with the problems in the country, the last that I had from the Ela Beach International Primary School was that expat enrolments were up on past years.
I will be in POM for a few days in April, to and from the reunion and will check out the Aero Club, the Cone of Silence as well as the RPYC and other old watering holes.
Regards,
Sharpie.
Doug phoned me in Subic at 4pm(PNG time) having just arrived in Lae and in answer to my question how many trips he has done on ther Highlands Highway in the last 37 years, he replied that he could not count them.
In operating in excess of 40 trucks on the Highway from Lae to Tari, to Mendi, to Hagen, to Porgera and to wherever, He has been stopped on a number of occassions and has made donations to various political or self interest welfare groups who pop-up along the way but never felt personally threatened or in fear for his life.
He has has many thousands of litres of fuel or containers of food stuffs hijacked, he has had drivers killed, trucks off the highway down ravines, but for some silly reason, keeps on trying to keep the Highlands supplied by road.
In answer to my question did he carry self defense arms of any sort, he replied that he never has had a gun, he never has had a need for a gun and he does not expect to obtain a gun in the future.
He like me, believes that if you keep your nose clean, keep out of mischief and do not appear to be a threat to anyone, your chances of survival are better.
Sadly, there are some people that wherever they may be, always seem to attract the wrong type of attention. Maybe it is their oral or body language that attracts the unwanted. They possibly would get into an argument with a monastry full of monks!
Charles, if you so desire, you can contact Doug on 675-4722443 or 675-5451333 to confirm my statements.
Further, even with the problems in the country, the last that I had from the Ela Beach International Primary School was that expat enrolments were up on past years.
I will be in POM for a few days in April, to and from the reunion and will check out the Aero Club, the Cone of Silence as well as the RPYC and other old watering holes.
Regards,
Sharpie.
Grandpa Aerotart
Didn't mean to impune your good name Pete...whatever else I have been convinced by your old nemisis at PNGALPA that you are an honourable old cuss...even if we didn't agree always...guess I owe you several beers at the reunion now
He still appreciates greatly that you were so thoughtfull as to facilitate his departure from PX in such a mutually beneficial manner
More aghast than anything else.
I did develope a fairly strong sense of self preservation and an extreme lack of tolerance for those that would do harm to my loved ones...I would agree however that I seem to be the lucky bastard these things always happen to...you should all thank me for keeping the heat off
I still maintain that carrying a handgun in PNG was a good idea...but I can accept that locked inside a welded wire cage in a huge truck ponderously navigating the Okuk Highway while being 'taxed' at every turn/cutting would probably work also...your brother must have the patience of a saint to watch a significant % of every uninsured load 'evaporate' between the bottom of the Kassam Pass and Mt Hagen.
The police forces in PNG are useless...sooner or later the Oz chaps will give up in disgust and they won't be able to find volunteers to go up there anymore.....they will be effectively nobled whichever way...hamstrung by the rules of engagement, unable to fullfill their purpose.
Pete...don't worry I bet those Monks deserved both barrells
PS. re Ela Beach School...is that because Murray and Boroko East etc have closed down/reduced classes due lack of teachers causing consolidation...or because expat numbers are on the rise? Not calling you a liar but I would have to see statistics of an incontrevertable nature before believing that expat numbers are greater than they were 10 yrs ago. Or are parents not prepared to drive so far to take their children to areas of Port Moresby that are less secure than downtown...or are the expats now mostly made up of Malaysians and Phillipinos with fewer Kiwis, Ozzies, poms etc?
I'd be the first person to shout GREAT if PNGs problems were reversed and the place became a flourishing economy filled with a happy local and expat population living well and safely enjoying all that one of the most beautifull places on this earth has to offer...attracting masses of foriegn tourists to what had/has the potential to be the best destination in the Pacific.
I just don't think it's going to happen...it took them 13+ yrs to beat that hope out of me and then I left....oddly enough with tears in my eyes.
Give the average grass roots PNG citizen what they deserve and desperately want...make PNG a Mandated Territory again....undo the disastrous last 30 yrs. Would you suggest Peter that they wouldn't be better off...would anyone?
I thought I'd end on a happy note...remember that time you and I raced your yacht two up?
Had some great times in PNG...even being shot at wasn't enough to send me packing.
And Pete perhaps you can tell me why a dedicated air freight service has yet to flourish replacing trucks...surely it would be vastly cheaper/ tonne than trucks given how much of each load doesn\'t get to the destination? Wouldn\'t it be great to see a venarable old Dak lumbering up to Goroka, Hagen etc loaded with tonnes of stuff..which all gets there rather than being distributed FOC throughout the various highland provinces?
Would have thought it a great joint venture with your brother after your retirement from the F28...Sharpes Air Freight Express...you could have painted a hand giving \'the bird\' under one wing and \'Fck You All\' in big letters under the other
He still appreciates greatly that you were so thoughtfull as to facilitate his departure from PX in such a mutually beneficial manner
More aghast than anything else.
I did develope a fairly strong sense of self preservation and an extreme lack of tolerance for those that would do harm to my loved ones...I would agree however that I seem to be the lucky bastard these things always happen to...you should all thank me for keeping the heat off
I still maintain that carrying a handgun in PNG was a good idea...but I can accept that locked inside a welded wire cage in a huge truck ponderously navigating the Okuk Highway while being 'taxed' at every turn/cutting would probably work also...your brother must have the patience of a saint to watch a significant % of every uninsured load 'evaporate' between the bottom of the Kassam Pass and Mt Hagen.
The police forces in PNG are useless...sooner or later the Oz chaps will give up in disgust and they won't be able to find volunteers to go up there anymore.....they will be effectively nobled whichever way...hamstrung by the rules of engagement, unable to fullfill their purpose.
Pete...don't worry I bet those Monks deserved both barrells
PS. re Ela Beach School...is that because Murray and Boroko East etc have closed down/reduced classes due lack of teachers causing consolidation...or because expat numbers are on the rise? Not calling you a liar but I would have to see statistics of an incontrevertable nature before believing that expat numbers are greater than they were 10 yrs ago. Or are parents not prepared to drive so far to take their children to areas of Port Moresby that are less secure than downtown...or are the expats now mostly made up of Malaysians and Phillipinos with fewer Kiwis, Ozzies, poms etc?
I'd be the first person to shout GREAT if PNGs problems were reversed and the place became a flourishing economy filled with a happy local and expat population living well and safely enjoying all that one of the most beautifull places on this earth has to offer...attracting masses of foriegn tourists to what had/has the potential to be the best destination in the Pacific.
I just don't think it's going to happen...it took them 13+ yrs to beat that hope out of me and then I left....oddly enough with tears in my eyes.
Give the average grass roots PNG citizen what they deserve and desperately want...make PNG a Mandated Territory again....undo the disastrous last 30 yrs. Would you suggest Peter that they wouldn't be better off...would anyone?
I thought I'd end on a happy note...remember that time you and I raced your yacht two up?
Had some great times in PNG...even being shot at wasn't enough to send me packing.
And Pete perhaps you can tell me why a dedicated air freight service has yet to flourish replacing trucks...surely it would be vastly cheaper/ tonne than trucks given how much of each load doesn\'t get to the destination? Wouldn\'t it be great to see a venarable old Dak lumbering up to Goroka, Hagen etc loaded with tonnes of stuff..which all gets there rather than being distributed FOC throughout the various highland provinces?
Would have thought it a great joint venture with your brother after your retirement from the F28...Sharpes Air Freight Express...you could have painted a hand giving \'the bird\' under one wing and \'Fck You All\' in big letters under the other
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 9th Mar 2005 at 07:14.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agree with Sharpie
I agree with Sharpie that there is something in body language or "whatever" that seems to make some people draw fewer bad vibes.
I've wandered some interesting streets in PNG, Indonesia, Hongkong ... and never had a problem.
I've used laughter and friendliness to get me over the initial moment.
Glad I haven't lived in PNG since '73.
We wandered home in most towns, alone or in groups from the pictures, pub and club regularly and didn't feel cold fear.
There was a night when Captain Drama had a bit of a "revelation".
He decided to leave his friends at the Madang pub and go back to the mess… he’d had enough and was tired.
He had partaken of a large number of Buka Meris and reckoned bed was a good place to be.
He was floating along past the golf course feeling pretty happy with life. The day's heat had dissipated and the cool balmy evening breeze was up, when he out of the blue, stumbled and fell over on the road.
Got up and fell over again.
Sort of got up carefully and staggered off, thanking his lucky stars that there were no witnesses to this embarrassing loss of dignity and seriously considered his age was catching up with him and he should perhaps consume less Rhum from now on.
He went to bed and next morning at breakfast was asked what he thought of the Gourier last night.
It was a happy Cap’n John who realized he could continue drinkin’ his normal quota after all.
I've wandered some interesting streets in PNG, Indonesia, Hongkong ... and never had a problem.
I've used laughter and friendliness to get me over the initial moment.
Glad I haven't lived in PNG since '73.
We wandered home in most towns, alone or in groups from the pictures, pub and club regularly and didn't feel cold fear.
There was a night when Captain Drama had a bit of a "revelation".
He decided to leave his friends at the Madang pub and go back to the mess… he’d had enough and was tired.
He had partaken of a large number of Buka Meris and reckoned bed was a good place to be.
He was floating along past the golf course feeling pretty happy with life. The day's heat had dissipated and the cool balmy evening breeze was up, when he out of the blue, stumbled and fell over on the road.
Got up and fell over again.
Sort of got up carefully and staggered off, thanking his lucky stars that there were no witnesses to this embarrassing loss of dignity and seriously considered his age was catching up with him and he should perhaps consume less Rhum from now on.
He went to bed and next morning at breakfast was asked what he thought of the Gourier last night.
It was a happy Cap’n John who realized he could continue drinkin’ his normal quota after all.
Grandpa Aerotart
About the only place left in PNG where you could do that was Rabaul by the mid 90s...maybe Tububil but that was a mining town...no unemployment and little meaningfull crime. Pre Volcano Rabaul, the yachty robbery not withstanding, was a special place...and even the yachty robbery was 'old style' raskolism...steel some beer and take peoples wallets then leave...it was a pleasant surprise after Moresby. Rabaul was my little peek at the PNG you guys enjoyed in the 60s and 70s...just magic...it was worth the price of admission to have lived there...the price being just about everything I owned being destroyed by the volcano...I, like a few of my mates at Airlink, was going to buy a house on the harbour and commute 'home' from Moresby every chance I got...was not to be though.
Most people who know me well would attest to the fact that I get along with nearly everybody...perhaps there is something to the negative aura thing...bit hard to explain that theory to a quiet, unassuming middle aged divorcee women teacher sleeping in her bed in Goroka or to a bunch of people having a quiet family bbq on a Friday night, or to Heather Mitchel, a young female Pacific choppers pilot going pinis whose only aura was one of too much trust, after they raped her they cut her up like a butchers, they being the wantoks of a person pretending to want to buy her car...that she thought nothing of hopping in the passenger seat while they took the car for a test drive is testimony enough to her missplaced faith in humanity...and let's not forget that for every crime perpetrated against an expat the locals suffered 1000 fold.
I walked home pissed from the Rabaul Yachty many times..."Eh poro..yu savi haus bilong mi i stap we?" "Klostu masta...mi soim yu!" and they did...they knew where I lived and took me by the arm and walked me there...it happened...and my place never got robbed...well until after the volcano flattened it but I got all that was left that meant anything to me...they were welcome to the other stuff.
Nobody dared walk 100m from their cars, or even stop at a traffic light late at night in Moresby by the early 90s...very sad indeed. Ask Doug Maskelyne about being stabbed at (from memory) Taurama lights....sitting in his freaking car at the traffic lights!!!
Your average grass roots Papuan/New Guinean, including Highlanders, are really quite wonderfull people...way out in the remote areas away from the Highlands Highway I met some wonderfull people...old Chief Kawali at Bomai...he made me a great black ash bow in exchange for some frozen kakaruk, razor blades and green hair gel...don't ask I don't know...introduced me to his latest wife, number 19 from memory, "Yu gat how mus meri?" "19"..."Dude I thought you were supposed to be wise" I very much doubt he actually understood anything other than the tone of my voice and the twinkle in my eye when I said that...he looked back with a twinkle in his eye and laughed out loud..."Emi oraight...ol meri it stap long narapela haus...suppose mi laik kwap mi raun long gaten" What a cool old dude.
In fact it took two trips to get him his stuff...enroute Bomai I had dropped a load of trade store goods off at Karamui and some theiving cnut stole his stuff outa the Islander...I called ahead on company HF flying back there to adequately prepare them for what was coming next...Chuck doing his nana...BIG TIME. Told them they could shove their coffee up their collective arses and I wasn't coming back for three days, theiving so and so etc...well that's the readers digest version...Didn't get Kawali's stuff back but got a big leaf bowl full of fruit and the sincerest appologies from the daughter of the Chief there...when I came back 3 days later...and then we were friends again
Never carried a gun out in the bush...it was about the only place you REALLY didn't have ANY need for one.
Most people who know me well would attest to the fact that I get along with nearly everybody...perhaps there is something to the negative aura thing...bit hard to explain that theory to a quiet, unassuming middle aged divorcee women teacher sleeping in her bed in Goroka or to a bunch of people having a quiet family bbq on a Friday night, or to Heather Mitchel, a young female Pacific choppers pilot going pinis whose only aura was one of too much trust, after they raped her they cut her up like a butchers, they being the wantoks of a person pretending to want to buy her car...that she thought nothing of hopping in the passenger seat while they took the car for a test drive is testimony enough to her missplaced faith in humanity...and let's not forget that for every crime perpetrated against an expat the locals suffered 1000 fold.
I walked home pissed from the Rabaul Yachty many times..."Eh poro..yu savi haus bilong mi i stap we?" "Klostu masta...mi soim yu!" and they did...they knew where I lived and took me by the arm and walked me there...it happened...and my place never got robbed...well until after the volcano flattened it but I got all that was left that meant anything to me...they were welcome to the other stuff.
Nobody dared walk 100m from their cars, or even stop at a traffic light late at night in Moresby by the early 90s...very sad indeed. Ask Doug Maskelyne about being stabbed at (from memory) Taurama lights....sitting in his freaking car at the traffic lights!!!
Your average grass roots Papuan/New Guinean, including Highlanders, are really quite wonderfull people...way out in the remote areas away from the Highlands Highway I met some wonderfull people...old Chief Kawali at Bomai...he made me a great black ash bow in exchange for some frozen kakaruk, razor blades and green hair gel...don't ask I don't know...introduced me to his latest wife, number 19 from memory, "Yu gat how mus meri?" "19"..."Dude I thought you were supposed to be wise" I very much doubt he actually understood anything other than the tone of my voice and the twinkle in my eye when I said that...he looked back with a twinkle in his eye and laughed out loud..."Emi oraight...ol meri it stap long narapela haus...suppose mi laik kwap mi raun long gaten" What a cool old dude.
In fact it took two trips to get him his stuff...enroute Bomai I had dropped a load of trade store goods off at Karamui and some theiving cnut stole his stuff outa the Islander...I called ahead on company HF flying back there to adequately prepare them for what was coming next...Chuck doing his nana...BIG TIME. Told them they could shove their coffee up their collective arses and I wasn't coming back for three days, theiving so and so etc...well that's the readers digest version...Didn't get Kawali's stuff back but got a big leaf bowl full of fruit and the sincerest appologies from the daughter of the Chief there...when I came back 3 days later...and then we were friends again
Never carried a gun out in the bush...it was about the only place you REALLY didn't have ANY need for one.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 9th Mar 2005 at 12:29.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Twyford, UK
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sharpie my dear chap .... I don't think Chuckles actually called you a liar....he did say though that you were talking garbis bilong you.!! Next post from him is in a VERY conciliatory tone, so lap it up while you can. I think he must be slighly ratarsed to write like that to you considering some of his other disagreements with you.!! Anyway, to the point. You say "Keep your nose clean, Keep out of mischief, Don't be a threat to anyone" You mean like the 10 year old kid, daughter of, the Expat Pixie man in Lae, (No names) who was raped in her bed, WHILE HER PARENTS WERE ASLEEP IN THE NEXT BEDROOM.!! She certainly never posed a threat, not did the lady waiting at the shopping centre up the road from the Islander when rascals stole her car and in her attempt to stop them, was dragged for half a mile up the road before they stopped and dropped what was left of her on to the highway.!! Unbelieveable. The people enjoying a quiet meal in the Cathay Club when they were bailed up. Theye were definitely keeping out of mischief unless you regard eating Chinese food a high risk occupation. (DONT answer that)
AND dare I say it, a young Taildragger himself. What the **** was I doing apart from having a quiet drink, perving at the meris when Mrs. TD wasn't looking, and chatting. Yet the bastards still stuck the axe in my back. (I must admit it looked rather fetching.!! I have the photographic evidence) Now, if I was armed that night there would be 5 rascals ded pinis. No question. So each to his own, but please please don't give me the old, "keep yer nose clean, don't be a threat to anyone etc blah blah blah
Come on Sharpie...you got millions of years in PNG and I hesitate to criticise such a sage, but there is no need to impersonate an old lapun.
Like Charles, I never stopped at traffic lights after dark, and drove defensively at all times, and made sure I could pull away, if needed.
Chuckles I well remember the drinks incident. It was at one of the summer balls I organised, in which incidentally, we raised a huge amount for the raffles with donations of TV sets, Business Class Air tickets to Hong Kong, Hotels, etc etc etc. Sure beats the top prize of a bottle of Scotch you see here.!!! I periodically danced with Missus TD (That IS perversion) and each time I came back, someone had half inched my grog. After the firfth one had gon pinis, I spat the dummy, got a glass from Simeon the barman and part time neanderathal impersonator, filled it with ice and pished in it. Put it on one of the display cabinets and we waited as you recall. One guy tasted it as you say and spat it out saying someting in Pidgin like "I say old chap, this Finest malt tases like Urine bilong whitepuk" His mate, not as discerning as Algernon, for that was his name' woofed the lot right down, smacked his lips, and looked around for more. It was years before I stopped laughing. Victims 1 Rascals 0
And you tell the kids today, and they dont believe you. (Said in a heavy Yorkshire accent)
This bit from an ex POM Whitepuk....
1. The Aussie head of the new police task force arrived at Jackson's, and was heading in to town when his vehicle was stopped and he was held up by two men dressed in police uniforms.
2. The guards at Andersons new store alongside the RPYC noticed several chaps in a ute cruising around the back of the store so they called the police. The use was stopped and searched... They police found two AK47-style weapons and 6 hand-grenades...
3. You can imagine a car chase with the rascals in the lead firing back at the police who are tailing them, and also firing... (usual sort of stuff)... the rascals disappeared into one of the camps [it was mentioned at the time but I have forgotten]... the police car stopped at the entrance to the camp and the Aussi cops waited while the PNG police disappeared inside... after several shotgun blasts and other shots the PNG police re-appeared dragging out two wounded men. these men we dropped in front of the Aussi contingent and promptly shot dead (presumably to show the Aussies how it's done up there)... the female Aussie threw up on the spot and two Aussie males were taken back for counselling...
Just like Adelaide really.
AND dare I say it, a young Taildragger himself. What the **** was I doing apart from having a quiet drink, perving at the meris when Mrs. TD wasn't looking, and chatting. Yet the bastards still stuck the axe in my back. (I must admit it looked rather fetching.!! I have the photographic evidence) Now, if I was armed that night there would be 5 rascals ded pinis. No question. So each to his own, but please please don't give me the old, "keep yer nose clean, don't be a threat to anyone etc blah blah blah
Come on Sharpie...you got millions of years in PNG and I hesitate to criticise such a sage, but there is no need to impersonate an old lapun.
Like Charles, I never stopped at traffic lights after dark, and drove defensively at all times, and made sure I could pull away, if needed.
Chuckles I well remember the drinks incident. It was at one of the summer balls I organised, in which incidentally, we raised a huge amount for the raffles with donations of TV sets, Business Class Air tickets to Hong Kong, Hotels, etc etc etc. Sure beats the top prize of a bottle of Scotch you see here.!!! I periodically danced with Missus TD (That IS perversion) and each time I came back, someone had half inched my grog. After the firfth one had gon pinis, I spat the dummy, got a glass from Simeon the barman and part time neanderathal impersonator, filled it with ice and pished in it. Put it on one of the display cabinets and we waited as you recall. One guy tasted it as you say and spat it out saying someting in Pidgin like "I say old chap, this Finest malt tases like Urine bilong whitepuk" His mate, not as discerning as Algernon, for that was his name' woofed the lot right down, smacked his lips, and looked around for more. It was years before I stopped laughing. Victims 1 Rascals 0
And you tell the kids today, and they dont believe you. (Said in a heavy Yorkshire accent)
This bit from an ex POM Whitepuk....
1. The Aussie head of the new police task force arrived at Jackson's, and was heading in to town when his vehicle was stopped and he was held up by two men dressed in police uniforms.
2. The guards at Andersons new store alongside the RPYC noticed several chaps in a ute cruising around the back of the store so they called the police. The use was stopped and searched... They police found two AK47-style weapons and 6 hand-grenades...
3. You can imagine a car chase with the rascals in the lead firing back at the police who are tailing them, and also firing... (usual sort of stuff)... the rascals disappeared into one of the camps [it was mentioned at the time but I have forgotten]... the police car stopped at the entrance to the camp and the Aussi cops waited while the PNG police disappeared inside... after several shotgun blasts and other shots the PNG police re-appeared dragging out two wounded men. these men we dropped in front of the Aussi contingent and promptly shot dead (presumably to show the Aussies how it's done up there)... the female Aussie threw up on the spot and two Aussie males were taken back for counselling...
Just like Adelaide really.
Last edited by Taildragger; 9th Mar 2005 at 14:16.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,971
Received 97 Likes
on
56 Posts
Sixtiesrelic, Chuckles et al; Love the reminiscences, please keep them coming!
I was only in PNG for just on eighteen months in the early 90s and still clearly remember some of the rather nasty incidents that occurred then. When I first arrived there around February 1990 I got all the 'gen' from various people but two pieces of advice still stands out and that was (1) that ones 'body language' can either establish you as (a) an easy mark or
(b) someone not to **** with.
The trick was to differentiate between the two and ensure that you fell into the latter category.
(2) Was somewhat different. I was told by quite a few long time expats that one should try to not act the 'superior white fella'
(the term actually used when the speaker was advising me)
Anyway, I must have led a charmed life in my time there because not once was I ever threatened, held up, shot at, molested or harrassed in any way that I can recall. Had a drunk mouthing threats on one of my flights out of Woitape once; thought stuff this, and landed back there only minutes after take off. Shut down, beckoned to our agent, pointed at the drunk and said 'get this drunk off my aircraft!'
Last I saw of him was about four of the locals hauling him off by his legs with several others kicking the crap out of him!
Another incident was a 'coffin charter' into Fane. The usual riot ensued with about fifty or sixty locals trying to get in the Islander for a free ride back to Moresby. I went off and had coffee with the Sisters and about an hour later went back to the a/c thinking that it would be settled by then. Wrong!!!!!
I'd had enough by the so I pulled some clown out of the LHS and intended to just turn the master switch on. The squeal from the door unsafe horn would have startled them enough to get the mob away briefly from the a/c so I could start turning an engine. However, the character I pulled out of the way obviously did'nt like it as he must have swung a punch at me. But one of the other rioters interestingly enough blocked the punch as I only felt a light tap on the back of my neck. When I turned to see what it was all I saw was the bloke I hauled out of the seat being dragged away by several others and they were really going to town on him!! Fists, feet an' all! So I took advantage of that and hit the switches, the crowd scattered and both engines were running in short order.
But the strangest thing that ever occurred was one night in the Club Dero. I was with the usual suspects at the time, us pilots from Simbu were with the TNA blokes and a few others including a few of the local 'non reflective' types. (Good one Chuck) One of the TNA pilots had just been hassled by some raskol but nothing dramatic and I remarked that I had never been held up, robbed, hassled or anything else really.
One of the locals heard my remark and commented that he could believe that easily and furthermore I probably never would be! When I asked why, his explanation was to me somewhat incredible to say the least!!
Anyway, if what he said was true, well it worked!!
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
I was only in PNG for just on eighteen months in the early 90s and still clearly remember some of the rather nasty incidents that occurred then. When I first arrived there around February 1990 I got all the 'gen' from various people but two pieces of advice still stands out and that was (1) that ones 'body language' can either establish you as (a) an easy mark or
(b) someone not to **** with.
The trick was to differentiate between the two and ensure that you fell into the latter category.
(2) Was somewhat different. I was told by quite a few long time expats that one should try to not act the 'superior white fella'
(the term actually used when the speaker was advising me)
Anyway, I must have led a charmed life in my time there because not once was I ever threatened, held up, shot at, molested or harrassed in any way that I can recall. Had a drunk mouthing threats on one of my flights out of Woitape once; thought stuff this, and landed back there only minutes after take off. Shut down, beckoned to our agent, pointed at the drunk and said 'get this drunk off my aircraft!'
Last I saw of him was about four of the locals hauling him off by his legs with several others kicking the crap out of him!
Another incident was a 'coffin charter' into Fane. The usual riot ensued with about fifty or sixty locals trying to get in the Islander for a free ride back to Moresby. I went off and had coffee with the Sisters and about an hour later went back to the a/c thinking that it would be settled by then. Wrong!!!!!
I'd had enough by the so I pulled some clown out of the LHS and intended to just turn the master switch on. The squeal from the door unsafe horn would have startled them enough to get the mob away briefly from the a/c so I could start turning an engine. However, the character I pulled out of the way obviously did'nt like it as he must have swung a punch at me. But one of the other rioters interestingly enough blocked the punch as I only felt a light tap on the back of my neck. When I turned to see what it was all I saw was the bloke I hauled out of the seat being dragged away by several others and they were really going to town on him!! Fists, feet an' all! So I took advantage of that and hit the switches, the crowd scattered and both engines were running in short order.
But the strangest thing that ever occurred was one night in the Club Dero. I was with the usual suspects at the time, us pilots from Simbu were with the TNA blokes and a few others including a few of the local 'non reflective' types. (Good one Chuck) One of the TNA pilots had just been hassled by some raskol but nothing dramatic and I remarked that I had never been held up, robbed, hassled or anything else really.
One of the locals heard my remark and commented that he could believe that easily and furthermore I probably never would be! When I asked why, his explanation was to me somewhat incredible to say the least!!
Anyway, if what he said was true, well it worked!!
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Last edited by Pinky the pilot; 9th Mar 2005 at 14:45.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,971
Received 97 Likes
on
56 Posts
Taildragger; Check your PMs
Guest
Posts: n/a
Its obvious Doug is providing a travelling Father Xmas show hes not likely to be attacked !
Chuck and Taily would probably be attacked and mugged in a convent.
OT but seein as we all love 185's this is one I flew when it was brand spankin new in ...um ' 66 I think it was
Chuck and Taily would probably be attacked and mugged in a convent.
OT but seein as we all love 185's this is one I flew when it was brand spankin new in ...um ' 66 I think it was
Grandpa Aerotart
Hmm...Nuns...that'd be a bit different
Chuck's 185, Taildragger on the right and Tommy Emmanual...circa 92ish
At the Dero...probably after the attack.
The brave little girl who lay quiet 'as a little mouse', as asked, during the Dero attack...and her adoring Dad
Chuck and his C185 outside the Dero
Right where I was standing as the attack commenced..10' right is where Peter Gerdes was almost shot
P2-TNC & P2-AWM outside Yorke's...where the international terminal is now
Chuck's 185, Taildragger on the right and Tommy Emmanual...circa 92ish
At the Dero...probably after the attack.
The brave little girl who lay quiet 'as a little mouse', as asked, during the Dero attack...and her adoring Dad
Chuck and his C185 outside the Dero
Right where I was standing as the attack commenced..10' right is where Peter Gerdes was almost shot
P2-TNC & P2-AWM outside Yorke's...where the international terminal is now
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 10th Mar 2005 at 01:22.
